Practical Paris advice needed

In My Humble Opinion
1

In less than two weeks, I’m going to Paris for a week. Sheer anticipatory joy and sheer anticipatory panic are starting to set in. It’s a group trip including students, staff, and other faculty from my campus. Since it’s a group trip, a lot of the itinerary is set so I’m not looking for “go see this” type advice. What I’m looking for is what sorts of cultural things will be different for me (as an American)?

Examples I’ve been given:

  • You can’t hail a taxi, you need to go to a taxi stand
  • You won’t get the bill at a cafe or restaurant until you ask for it
  • Metro train doors don’t open automatically

I’d appreciate any advice like that. Hell, I’d actually appreciate any advice really.

(for the record, I looked through a ton of pages of threads, but in the end, I just decided to open this one)

2

The French are renouned for perfumes and colognes.
Would you like to guess why?
:smiley:

3

I did that same kind of thing right after I graduated high school. My advice is to relax and have fun. They pretty much take care of you, so you don’t need to worry to much. Try to speak a little French, even if you’re not good at it. In my experience people were friendly, and seemed to appreciate that you were at least trying.

4

Everyone in Paris speaks English. Well, I heard that there were two that didn’t but one of them died. They just don’t like to be forced into it by tourists.

I don’t speak a word of French and I have spent many days alone walking around in Paris without a problem. I found that the key is to just be very humble. Certainly don’t walk up to a French person and start speaking English. I would just remain silent in the stores, cafes etc. until someone needed to speak to me and they would quickly figure out that I only spoke English and start on their own. I never had a single person out of literally hundreds be rude to me that way.

5

This is less the case in the big department stores, but when you go into a small shop (especially an expensive one) don’t just be touching the merchandise. If you’d like to see something, ask for it. I’ve seen some seriously dirty looks given to Americans in small family-owned shops when they walk in and just put their paws all over the merchandise.

Big department stores are much more like the ones we’re familiar with.

6

When you walk into a place, like a store or a restaurant, say hello. Do it in French.

Bon Jour.
Say goodbye and thank you when you leave.

Bon soir, merci.

Be friendly and polite and the Parisians will be friendly and poite.
You are going to want to take more photos than you are planning. When I went I thought one roll of film (36) a day would be plenty. I probably could have done three times that much.
Only eat ‘fresh’ crepes. If the stand has a stack of them that they just warm up for you, go someplace else. You want to watch them pour the batter on the big round thing and make it right there.

The best place is Rue Cler near where it intersects with Champ de Mars at a place called Ulysses. Trust me. They put butter on the crepe and melt it with the sugar. This makes it much better. Most places don’t add the butter.

7

As long as you’re in the city limits and it’s daylight, don’t be afraid to get completely lost. Get off the Métro somewhere and wander around. Once you get tired you can probably find a Métro stop within 5 minutes…if not, you could probably walk up to just about anyone and ask “Métro?” and be pointed in the right direction.

If you get lost you’ll end up exploring neighborhoods, not tourist sights (though you may stumble across a sight or two anyway). You’ll get a good idea of how Parisians live. My wife and I were there a few weeks ago, went to visit the Parc des Batignolles (a working-class park in the 17th), then just went a-wandering, seeing a side of the city we didn’t ordinarily see, and eventually found a Métro station that took us back to our lodgings. So I practiced what I preach.

8

You won’t be expected to tip much at all --at most, one or two Euros for a good meal. Learn how to say please and thank you and where is the toilet? and “I don’t speak French.”

My granddaughter and I were there in April and the French were wonderful to us.

Don’t say “ooooh, la la.” It’s “Oh, la la.”

I have been told that it is impolite to take photographs of strangers without asking. I learned this from a stranger. Right after I took his photograph. I said, “Je suis desolate” which I think is pronounced des-o-lay and was allowed to live.

Don’t forget to put your camera away sometimes and drink it all it. Savor it with every sense.

9

I wouldn’t worry about taxis at all in Paris. Their Metro system is the best I’ve ever seen - it goes everywhere and is pretty clean in most places. Well, clean enough. Get yourself a map (I’m sure you can find one online) and spend a little time with it. The lines are labelled by numbers (and color), and to figure out which direction to go, make note of the last stop on the line - that’s how it will be labelled in the stations. (think I remember that correctly) I figured it out in a snap and it proved a tremendous benefit! Don’t be afraid to explore (in daylight, of course!). I’ve been there several times and never met a rude Frenchman. Saw plenty of rude Americans though!

Oh and don’t forget to find a grocery store/market and check out the different kinds of foods & toiletries! That’s always one of my favorite things to do when I go abroad.

You might also want to check out Jim Morrison’s grave in Pere Lachaise cemetery. Oscar Wilde and Chopin are also buried there.

10

ditto to walking around and getting lost. I saw some of the best things like that…like seeing the old guy walking his chihuahua and watching the dog stop, lift his leg and go on some guys 1000euro painting he had sitting in front of his store on the sidewalk…

buy chocolate!!! Melts in your mouth.

If you’re not sure about the subway opening, just stand behind someone else.

If you just try with the language, they’ll come in and help you. Younger ones more than older ones just like in any foreign city.

And from what i remember from my ‘Learn French by Cassette tape’ tape…
desole…day-zho-lay…I am sorry.
juen parle pas bien francais…zhun-parl-pa-beohhh-francais…I don’t speak french well.

11

Thanks so much for the advice so far. Keep it comin’…

12

While this is true of the Metro, asking directions in Paris is touchy. Apparently, if you ask someone for directions, they are duty-bound to lend all aid and assistence until you have received the directions. This includes going into nearby cafes, bars, hospitals and businesses until they find someone who can help. If it seems you can’t get anyone to help you with directions, this is why.

This is weird advice, but be QUITE. Apparently the number one way Americans annoy Parisians is by talking too loudly in cafes. Be sure to keep your voice down to at or below the level of the other patrons.

Occasionally, you will encounter someone who doesn’t speak english. You’d be amazed at how far you can butcher the language and be forgiven.

North American men are considered exotic. I was flirted with a lot. One does not make continued eye contact; rather, one looks at the target of ones interest, then as soon as they look up, one looks away suddenly. There are two reasons I bring this up; it is rude to keep staring at a person (even doing what a North American wouldn’t consider staring) and if you find a bunch of women (or men, I’m guessing based on your user name) keep suddenly looking away, this is NOT them being rude.

Paris is ridiculously safe, in the sense of violent crime, but does have its share of exceptionally skilled pickpockets, particularly around things like the American Express building. While the risk is probably minor, the inconvenience is significant, so keep things in inside pockets.

There is a HUGE price difference for things between the 1st and 4th arrondismonts (sp?). Spend a day there before buying things.

The food thing. Most resturants are open for lunch, then close, then re-open for dinner. This baffles many people, and one of my favorite images was American backpackers sitting hunched over crepes because they finally found out when a resturant was open. Check a guide book for the actual times. Oh, in a café, if they say they “aren’t currently serving food”, they typically don’t include sandwiches in the things they aren’t currently serving.

It’s been a couple of years, and I’ve only been there once, so please take this with a grain of salt.

13

I didn’t experience much that was whacko that I haven’t experienced in New York.

The last time there, the only problem thing was that I tried to order deux oeufs and instead she brought deux plats des oeufs. Each plat had trois oeufs on it so I wound up with quartre more oeufs than I wanted.

If you really get off the beaten path, you’ll find more people who don’t speak English well, if at all.

14

It costs more to sit down at a table (“salle”) in a cafe or bar than to drink at the counter (“comptoir”). Often quite a bit more.

If you want a beer as for a “demi de pression” for the draught (which is similar to US beer - but stronger) otherwise you may well get a bottle (more expensive).

“C” on a tap (fawcett if you must) means it’s the hot tap (“chaud”).

Brace yourself if you plan to visit the toilet in a paris bar (you’ll find out why!). They are also often of the “turkish” type. If you visit the toilet and there is a little old lady outside 50 cents is about right for a tip.

Hotels don’t provide flannels (washcloths to you lot).

Parisians are cussed bastards. If you start talking to them in English they may pretend not to understand (of course they may just not speak english). However if you at least make an attempt at a few phrases they will think rather better of you.

Don’t wear shorts if you don’t want people to know you’re a yank.

15

Well it’s about time somebody considered me exotic! :smiley:

You don’t mean exotic like should be kept in a cage, right?

16

Ummm…what’s a turkish type toilet?

Shorts won’t be a problem. What about blue jeans? Are they a giveaway?

17

  • Not sure if it was just because it was late at night, but I was able to hail a taxi. I kind of jumped off the curb to make sure he saw me, but he did stop and I got a ride (tip: always carry a card from the hotel you’re staying at).
    As others have mentioned, the Metro is the way to go.

  • Asking for the bill is pretty standard throughout europe, not just Paris. One other note on restaurants and coffee houses - there is no such thing as a “non-smoking” section.

  • There is either a little metal lever or a button on the newer ones to open the Metro doors. It may seem like they open automatically at times because either 1) someone else in the car is opening one of the doors, or 2) someone outside has pushed the button or lifted the lever. Not a big deal, you’ll figure it out.

Some other tips:

  • Be prepared for cold - especially wind. I was there in mid-April a couple years ago, and that wind can be brutal. You’ll understand why all the Parisians are wearing scarves.

  • Dogs are quite the fad in Paris. So don’t be surprized to see people bring their dogs into restaurants while they have dinner. Also, be aware of “landmines” on the sidewalks (the walkers don’t clean up after their dogs).

  • If you get some free time to yourself, head over to the Forum Des Halles area. This is a mutli-block area that is pedestrian only. Tons of shops, coffee shops, and restaurants. Great place to just people-watch, if nothing else. I was looking for some CDs for a friend, and this was the place that was recommended. But there are a lot of cool (not all touristy) shops there.

  • ATMs everywhere, and they are the way to go. I wouldn’t bother with traveller’s checks.

18

The toilets is the squat kind - I’m at work and I’ll be buggered if I’m googling that here! - There’s no bowl just a hole in he ground. They’re a challenge if you’re not used to them.

Jeans are fine - they’re universal. In any case people will know you’re american (and not care less) because of you clothes and general bearing - plus the whole “American hair” thing.

19

The French don’t eat what we would consider a real breakfast. Coffee and croissant or bread, that’s pretty much all you’ll get at the hotel.

If you happen to be in the area, take your morning cafe et croissant at one of the kiosks in the concourse of the Gare de l’Est train station. World-class people watching location.

No one except American tourists attempts to eat dinner before 7:30 PM, and 9 PM or later is peak time.

When planning your evening festivities, keep in mind that the Metro stops running at 1AM, and that taxis are difficult to find at that hour (you generally can hail a cab, but it is usually easier to wait at a taxi stand; in both cases it may take as much as a half-hour before finding a cab). There is a sketchy all-night bus service, but the frequency on each route is only once per hour.

If you are in the Forum des Halles area, be careful of who and what you take photos of; there are a lot of drug dealers who hang out in gangs (or were back in the late '90s when I last lived there) and they are not above hurling bottles at someone they think is taking pictures of them.

Even if it may seem a bit corny, take a Bateau Mouche on a tour of the Seine. Inexpensive, very relaxing and great views of the city. Don’t, however, take one as a dinner cruise.

Overall, though, great city with an incredible number of things to see and do. I’m sure you’ll enjoy yourself.

20

It’s a lot cheaper to buy Metro tickets in a booklet (carnet?) than one at a time. If you don’t use them all, you can always sell or give them away to someone else who will still be there.

Oh, another Metro thing: make sure you don’t go out the exit area in the Metro unless you are finished and want to go out of the building. Once you go out (Sortie?) you can’t get back in. I found that out the hard way.

If you’re in decent shape, don’t pay for the elevator to the second level of the Eiffel Tower. Just walk it. It’s a nice walk and a gorgeous view.

Even if the little “Walking man” sign is lit up for pedestrians, you still have to be really careful when trying to cross the street, because there’s no guarantee that a car will stop for you. Be aware of your surroundings.

It’s been 4.5 years since I’ve been to Paris, so some of this may be out of date. Have a fantastic time!